Biphasic effects of ankaferd blood stopper on renal tubular apoptosis in the rat partial nephrectomy model representing distinct levels of hemorrhage

To investigate the effect of Ankaferd Blood Stopper [ABS], on renal tubular apoptosis and on expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS], inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], and apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 [Apaf-1] in the ipsilateral kidney after an experimentally formed partial nephrectomy in a rat model. The study was performed in 2009 at the Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Animal Laboratory Center, Ankara, Turkey. We divided 24 Wistar rats into the following 4 groups. Group I [GI] - partial nephrectomy [PN] with hilar control as the conventional technique, Group II [GII] - the conventional technique with ABS, Group III [GIII] - received ABS application to the renal parenchyma and collecting duct with hilar control [non-sutured group]. Group IV [GIV] - PN and ABS were performed without hilar control. The ABS solution [1 cc] was applied during the surgery to stop bleeding from resected renal tissue. At first month, all rats were sacrificed. Renal tubular apoptosis was investigated. The mean percentage of apoptotic cell counts in GI were 20% iNOS, 20% eNOS, and 10% Apaf-1. In GII they were 10% iNOS, 20% eNOS, 5% Apaf-1, in GIII they were 40% iNOS, 50% eNOS, 30% Apaf-1, and in GIV they were 5% iNOS, 5% eNOS, and 3% Apaf-1. There was no significant decrease in apoptotic cells in GII, GIII, and GIV, to which we applied ABS. The highest percentage of apoptosis was shown in GIII accompanied by significant inflammation. The lowest percentage was determined in GIV, the non-warm ischemia group. The ABS has a dual biphasic de novo effects on apoptosis. The challenge of severe hemorrhage in the renal tubular cellular micro-environment causes ABS-induced down-regulations in the expressions of apoptotic molecules, indicating that ABS may act as a topical biological response modifier

Comparison of sertraline and citalopram for treatment of premature ejaculation

We evaluated the efficacy of citalopram and sertraline in the treatment of premature ejaculation [PE]. Of 101 married men with PE, 80 were eligible and consented to participate in this randomized controlled trial. Erectile dysfunction and administration of drugs for the treatment of PE were the exclusion criteria. The patients were evaluated using index of premature ejaculation [IPE] questionnaire and were randomly assigned into groups 1 [sertraline] and 2 [citalopram]. They received one of these drugs for 8 weeks and then were re-evaluated by the IPE. Pretreatment and posttreatment results were compared within and between the study groups.A. A total of 80 patients entered and completed the study. The mean age of the patients was 38.4 A +/- 7.7 in group 1 and 37.5 A +/- 6.9 in group 2 [P = .60]. The mean pretreatment IPE scores were 21.4 A +/- 1.8 and 20.9 A +/- 1.3 in the patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively [P = .23]. After 8 weeks, significant improvement was seen in both groups in terms of the IPE questionnaire results [39.8 A +/- 1.4; P < .001 and 39.5 A +/- 2.9; P < .001, respectively]. However, the treatment response was not different between the 2 groups [P = .50]. No serious adverse effects were detected in any of the patients and both drugs were tolerated well. Citalopram and sertraline are safe and effective in patients with PE. Additionally, we failed to find any difference between the effects of these two drugs in the treatment of this condition